Bushing for electric tubular insulation.



C. M. WHEELOCK.

BUSHING FOR ELECTMC TUBULAR INSULATION.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. I4. 1913. RENEWED mm: 18, NH].

1 Q36,@2@o Patented Aug. 7, 1917,

M M. WW, n vented CARL M. WHEELOCK, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO NEW PROCESS SPECIALTY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

BUSHING FOR ELECTRIC TUBULAR INSULATION.

actose.

Application filed August 14, 1913, Serial No. 784,681.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL M. Wnnnnoox, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, have invented a Bushing for Electric Tubular Insulat1on, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to means for holding in place at outlets and other points a flexible tubing for electric wires such as that known to the trade as circular loom, being a tube woven of textile materials and saturated with insulating compounds.

My object is to provide a means for securely attaching the tubing to the edges of openings such as those in cutout-boxes, the wall of which is a thin metal plate; andto provide a means which is readily put in place without the use of tools but cannot become loose or detached of itself. aim to provide such a device as will not puncture or injure the tublng and W111 protect it from abrasion on the sides of the opening. Further, I aim to produce a device which can be produced and marketedat a trifling cost. The design of my device can be made such that it is removable or nonremovable as desired without the use, of

tools.

trated in the accompanying drawings, Wherein-- Figure 1 is an end view of the bushing as it is placed on the market;

Fig. 2 is a plan-view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal 566M011. of the bushing and of a plate, piece of tubing and wire, the plate having a clrcular hole therein, showing the tubing pass ng through the hole and my device in posltlon;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of an alternative form of bushing, according to my invention, in place;

Fig. 5 is a perspective v1ew thereof-,

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of another alternative form of bushing in place; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view thereof.

In these drawings each reference letter or numeral refers to the same part wherever used. v

The device, three forms of which are shown in the drawings, is made in one piece, formed of sheet-metal and being of barrel-shaped form, said device having a means on its interior face'for gripping the flexible tubing, and on its outer face for en- 56 gaging the edge of the hole in the metal- Specification of Letters Patent.

Further I V The nature of my invention is best illusp Patented Au 7, 191?.

Renewed June 18, 1917. SeriaI No. 175,504.

plate through which it passes. The bushing is necessarily split along one side to provide diametral expansion and contraction so that it can be opened to pass over the tubing and closed together to grip the same;

and for the purpose of greater facility of manufacture it is also split along the opposite side, at least in those forms of my invention where the barrel is other than cylindrical.

I will first describe the form of my in vention shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive. The bushing, which as a whole is designated A, is made with two oppositely conical end-portions a, connected by a medial or waist-portion b, the diameter of which is less than the greater or basal ends of the conical portions a, thus forming abrupt shoulders c, and effectively an annular socket for the edge (if of the aperture in the plate E in which the bushing A is seated when in use. On the ends or circular portions of the conical portions (1, the metal is turned in to form annular flanges 7, which may be divided at intervals to facilitate circular resiliency.

In addition to being divided along a line arallel to the axis, the bushing A is partially divided at a point opposite thereto, by slits 9, so that the bushing can be expanded as in Figs. 1 and 2, forming substantially two halves united by a central neck It. This device enables the bushing to be formed by a single operation of a punchpress, and moreover makes it much easier to place upon the tubing, and more easily adaptable to the. diameter thereof, which is more or less variable.

As described, the bushing is double-ended, and therefore reversible, and grips the tub ing at each end. The edges of the flanges f are not sharp, nor are they intended to bite into the tubing-material to their full depth, but only so far as may be necessary to take up the difierence in diameter between the tubing I and hole cl and the plate E. Thus it will be seen that the bushing adapts itself to a considerable variation in the diameter of tubing and hole. To use the bushing, it is first placed upon the tubing and compressed thereon, and the end thereof inserted in the hole d and pushed longitudinally thereinto. The metal of the bushing will yield resiliently to the compression until the socket formed by the annular depression 72 is opposite the hole d, when it will snap out and the shoulders 0 will engage the edges of the hole. The bilshing is now in place and cannot be dislocated by pulling the tubing endwise, nor can the latter be shifted upon the bushing; but the bushin can be disconnected by using a proper too for compressing the same.

In the form A of the bushing, illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the bushing is provided with the conical end-portions a, depressed waist b, and shoulders 0 as before; but the flanges are omitted, and in place thereof a number of pointed teeth are punched out of the center of the bushing and turned inwardly so as to engage the material of the tublng I, thereby performing the same functlon as the flanges f.

In the second alternative form of bushing A" shown in Figs. 6 and 7, a structure is shown which, although not provided with conical ends and a depressed waist-portion, as in Figs. 1 and 4:, but is made cylindrical, performing the same function as said omitted elements. In this case the bushing is a cylindrical barrel which may have the flanges f, teeth y, or as shown, the end-teeth is, for the purpose of engaging the tubing I; and, as a means for engaging the edges of the hole 03, there are pressed up upon the body of the bushing a plurality of opposltely-fa clng lugs m, the outer sides of which are sloping, butthe inner sides abrupt, so that they easily slide into the hole until the bushing has reached the center thereof, when the abrupt sides of the lugs m engage the opposite sides of said hole.

From the above description it will be seen that my invention, may assume numerous forms, all founded on the same principle, and all of which are included within the spirit of my invention and intended to be included in the accompanying claims, as will appear.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the class and for the purpose described comprising a tubular member divided along one side and partially divided along the opposite side so as to form two halves which are united by a neck.

2. A device of the .class and for the purtoward said line and sloping faces away from said line, said tubular member bein divided along one side and partially divide along the opposite side so as to form two 7 halves united by a neck which includes the portion between said projecting elements.

3. A device of the class and for the purpose described comprising a tubular member having on opposite sides of the medial line projecting elements having abrupt faces toward said line and sloping faces away from said line, said tubular member being di-' vided along one side and partially divided along the opposite side so as to form two halves united by a neck.

4. A device of the class and for the purpose described comprising a tubular sheet metal member divided along one side, said member having oppositely conical end portions, a medial peripheral band of less diameter than the basal diameters of said end portions, and abrupt shoulders between the latter and said band, said member being provided with a slit in each end which effectively divide it into two halves connected by a central neck.

5. A device of the class and for the purpose described comprising a tubular member divided along one side and recessed on the side opposite thereto to provide a line of fiexure.

6. A device of the class and for the purpose described comprising a tubular member divided along one side having outwardly projecting abutments intermediate the ends thereof, and inwardly directed extensionsv from said abutments.

7. A device of the class and for the purpose described comprising a tubular member divided along one side aving an annular recess intermediate its ends, and inwardly directed extensions from the sides of said recess.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

CARL M. WHEELOCK. 

